THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND “CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.”
By W. N. G.
“Christian citizenship” is becoming the watchword of Christian effort all over the land. The logic of events is impelling thoughtful minds in this direction. The Christian mind especially seems to be ripe for conviction. So says the Christian Statesman, a paper devoted to the illogical work of religious reform by means of political methods. The chief object of this so-called “national reform” is “the enthroning of Christ over our nation.” The Statesman, and the “reform” of which it is the organ, maintain that “the fundamental cause of our national troubles is the persistent refusal of the nation to acknowledge Jesus Christ as its Lord and King.” But, unless He has changed His mind since His former residence on the earth, there is but one way to accomplish the aim of the “reformers,” and that is to “take Him by force, to make Him a king.” John 6:15. The Lord never does anything by halves or by piecemeal. He already “ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will” (Dan. 4:17, 25, 32), not only in the United States, but in all the world. And when He is ready to set up His glorious kingdom in the earth, He will do so, regardless of man’s political acknowledgment or political rejection. But when He does do so, there will be an end of the United States, and every other political government on the earth. When the world’s future history was shown to Nebuchadnezzar in the vision of a great metallic image, there also appeared a stone, cut out without hands, that smote the image on its feet—the very end of earthly history—and the whole structure was “broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them; and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” Dan. 2:34, 35. In the interpretation, this stone represents the kingdom of God; so that when He sets up His kingdom in the earth, there will be no place for the United States Government, and the work of the National Reformers, like all other political accomplishments, will come to naught. The Lord has a kingdom among men, and a throne in the hearts of His true subjects, where, under the new covenant, His law is written. The work of advancing the interests of this kingdom is a spiritual, not a political, work. It is done by the Lord’s people, whose “citizenship is in heaven,” under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Christ did not die for the redemption or the upbuilding of governments; there is but one enduring government, and that one never was lost—it is an everlasting kingdom. Christ gave His life for the salvation of human individuals, “whosoever believeth on Him.” The work that He left to His people is the same work in which He himself engaged while on earth. For the purposes of that work He established the church, and told His disciples to “preach the Gospel to every creature.” Christians are to “be subject unto the higher powers,” and not to control them. For the work of the church He did not ordain legislators, or judges, or soldiers, or policemen; but “He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” Eph. 4:11. And for what were these especially given? for the perfecting of human governments? for the conducting of political campaigns? for the enforcement of human law? or concocting political schemes?—Not at all; it was “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry [preaching the Gospel to every creature], for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Verse 12. And through what means are the saints to be perfected? through the civil law?—No, through the Word of God. “Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth.” John 17:17. Inasmuch as the civil government is for the protection of the rights of all classes, all being equal before the law, whether Christian or infidel; and inasmuch as Christianity is an individual matter and not a national concern, it is quite clear that this so-called Christian citizenship movement has no legitimate place either in the Church or in the State. It is an intruder in either place, a delusion and a snare. The State is a temporary arrangement for preserving order in the world, among people who will not heed the law of God (1 Tim. 1:9); it will therefore come to an end when the kingdom of God is set up and fills the whole earth. But the true church is made up of people who “are not of the world.” John 17:16. The true church and the State have nothing in common; the church can not unite with the State without committing fornication. In doing so she becomes a “harlot,” and the State is made “drunk” by her influence, thereby becoming liable to enact all manner of unreasonable and even tyrannical measures. To such a goal the “Christian citizenship” effort must inevitably carry the State. Christians especially should take warning from the past history of church interference in the affairs of the State, and also from the prophetic Word, which points to the future repetition of that history in all parts of the world. W. N. G.